The Arizona sentinel., 1887-05-14
A FEMININE APOLOGY.
An Incident Showing That the Ways
 Wnman Ara Rast Eindinr- Ont


 one day last summer, gazing at the old liberty bell of which Philadelphians are so justly proud, when a we'll dressed, middle-aged lady came in, and later on a benevolent-looking old man. The three of us stood and gazed and felt awed and overcome. That old bell with the crack down its side carried us back to the days when freedom wanted to shriek, but dasn't, and when King Somebody wanted us to pay too high a price for young Tyson tea think 1 was the most deeply affected. The woman seemed to be looking the bell over to see if it had hustle or new bonnet, and the old man, who was doubtless a Quaker, squinted hls right eye and seemed to cal- culate that his yoke of steers could shake that bell all over a ten acre lot if it were placed on a stone boat, The woman went out so softly, and my mind was so busy with Gen eral Putnam, Molly Pitcher and Valley Forge, that I didn't notice her ab- sence. After awhile I looked up, de- eided that I wanted more room for my feelings, and started to go out Just then the woman re-entered, and there was policeman behind her.
 "Th at is the man, sir!'' she said to the officer, as she motioned towards me.
 ''Ah! He is, eh! Couldn't have been this old gran ger, eh!''
 ''No, sir! This man is the only one who came near me-"
 ''Any thing happened here not con- nected with the Declaration of Inde- pendence?" I anxiously inquired.
 That won't go down, young man, not with mer' exclaimed the officer, as he hustled around and got out his handcuffs.
 You evidently desire to make my acquaintance. ,"
 Exactly. Put your hand in there, and don't try to play me any tricks. Now, then, come along, and this lady will please follow"
 'Is he depredator, or somethingP" earnestly inquired the old man.
 ''Is he? I should remarkr" answered the officer. He's the daisiest depre- dator on this coast, and it's wonder he hasn't got your wallet as well"
 The old man was going down into his hind pocket to see if his calf-skin was safe as we left, and one or two people who were coming in had the kindness to remark that I had the look of born thief.
 "Ah! you bet he hasr' chuckled the officer as he gave me an affectionate look. If I haven't got the darbies on the wrists of Billy the Kid I'm no good!'
 Let me give you piece of advice. If you are ever arrested on the street go quietly with the officer. It will do no good to plead innocence or amaze ment, or seek to convince him that he has made mistake. His intention is to run you in. After he has put you under arrest he has no light to let you go. The three of us went straight to headquarters, and hadn't a word to say en route. The woman wanted me to confess the error of my ways, but I preferred not to just then. When we went in the officer explained that I had picked the woman's pocket of purse containing twelve dollars, and that he had had his eye on me for sev- eral days. ''So he picked your pocketP" queried the superintendent of the woman. "Yes, sir.' (Which pocket was it in?''
 'In this one-the right-hand." Sure you didn't lose it?''
 ''As sure as I live"
 Didn't put it in your dress pocket, 1 did you?"
 ''Oh, no, sir; I had it."
 She stopped her speech to feel in her dress pocket. In a few seconds she flushed red and then turned white, and | out came the purse. She looked at it | fin perfect astonishment, and then tried | pretty hard to faint away.
 ''Then he didn't pick your pocket, it seemsr' observed the superintend- ent
 ''No-no, sir. I remember now of putting it in my dress for fear of los ing it."
 ''Well, you have had an honest man handcufed and dragged through the streets, and what are you going to do about 1t?'
 ''Yes, what is she going to do about it!'' exclaimed the officer in a whisper. "The idea of his being thief? I'd know better with my eyes shutr'
 1T don't know-rI beg his par don and say that -. No, won t, either! He would probably have taken it if he could-so therer'
 And with that she spread her wings and sailed away, and the officer waddled after, and the superintendent and I had cigar together and agreed that this was queer world.-M Quad, iB Detroit Free Press
 How Indians Catch Eagles.